The effect of Soviet political climate on the music of Sergei Prokofiev

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the political climate in Soviet Russia and how the expectations and restrictions set by Andrey Zhdanov and the Central Committee effected Soviet composers. Travelling abroad to the United States, Germany, and France gave Prokofiev a wider world view but also pushed him to return to Russia as he was not as successful abroad as he had hoped. Compositional characteristics of Prokofiev’s music include the use of chromatic ‘wrong notes’ in otherwise tonal music and use of Russian folk melodies. Throughout his life Prokofiev tried to keep within the boundaries set by the Soviet government while still composing music that is uniquely and freely his.